Niti Aayog in talks with UP over distribution of 20K methanol stoves: Saraswat

Niti Aayog is in talks with the Uttar Pradesh governent for the state's plans to distribute 20,000 gas stoves powered by methanol, its member V K Saraswat said today.

The government think tank has been making strategies to reduce huge crude import bills in the country.

"(The) UP government wants to distribute 20,000 gas stoves. We have established contact with them in this regard for methanol stoves," the former Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Saraswat told PTI.

Saraswat, after participating in a Group of Minister's meeting on methanol said the plans are to supply the alternative fuel by Assam Petrochemicals.

Asked about the cost of the project, the scientist said it could be about Rs 15 crore.

The GoM meeting was chaired by Union minister for road transport Nitin Gadkari. It was attended by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar and Heavy Industreis and Public Enterprises Minister Anant Geete besides officials from various ministries.

The meeting discussed various projects in detail to boost methanol production in the country besides its promotion.

In a bid to lower crude oil import bill, the government will promote coal gasification to convert high ash coal into methanol that can be used as cooking gas and transportation fuels, Saraswat had earlier said.

He also said that methanol is a good substitute for transportation fuels and cooking fuel and there is a merit in India also looking at methanol economy.

The Bureau of Indian Standards have certified methanol as a fuel.

According to the latest estimate, methanol production could cut India's huge crude oil imports bill by 20 per cent, which is pegged at about Rs 6 lakh crore per annum.

Methanol is a clear and colourless liquid produced from natural gas, coal and a wide range of renewable feedstock. Also known as wood alcohol, methanol is naturally occurring and biodegradable.

India has already introduced blending of petrol with ethanol.

According to the Methanol Institute, USA -- an industry consortium -- China is using 15-20 per cent of its fuel mixed with methanol.